Underground conduit



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. J. S. DU BOIS.

UNDERGROUND CONDUIT. No. 354,892. Patented Dec. 28, 1886-.

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h s1 X nvenfor ma? UNITED STATES PATENT OFF CE.

JOSIAH s. DU 1301s, or canons," NEW JERSEY.

UNDERGROUND CONDUIT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 354,892, dated December28, 1886.

(No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSIAH S. DU BoIs, of Camden, county of Camden, andState of New Jersey, have invented an Improvement in UndergroundConduits, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has reference to underground conduits for electric wires,but more specifically to the means of supporting and keeping themseparate within the tube or conduit, and is especially applicable to theinvention set forth and claimed in Letters Patent granted to Rudolph M.Hunter, No. 275,387, and dated April 10, 1883, all of which is fully setforth in the following specification and shown in the accompanyingdrawings, which form part thereof.

The object of this invention is to provide a suitable support for theelectric wires,whereby they shall be supported clear of each other andfrom the conduit, be positively retained in position, and allow of thefree passage of air and gas through the conduit.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a cross-section on line y y of a conduit,wires, and support therefor embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is alongitudinal sectional elevation of same on line .r m. Fig. 3 is a planView of the binding-strap before being bent. Fig. at is a pcrspccti-veview of the wire-support, and Fig. 5 is an elevation showing the conduitcombined with means to create a pressure therein.

A is the conduit, which may be built of iron or formed of any othermaterial desired, though an ordinary pipe of cast-iron is well suited tothe purpose.

B are the wires, shown as electric-light wires, and are arranged in thenotches E of the wire-support 0, being supported by the extension D. Thelateral edges of the sup ports project upon each side of the extensionD, to form circular flanges upon which the wires are clamped, as setforth hereinafter. These supports are preferably formed of cast metal,and are made like a hollow cylinder with projections D, which are madeof such a length as to project beyond the wires laid in the notches E,and thus insure them being held clear of the tube or conduit A. Thewires, where they are inserted in the notches E, are preferably wrappedwith extra insulation I), and are clamped close to the ring and upon theflanges of the support by the strap F, which is provided with holes f,through which the projections D pass and by which the strap is retainedin position about the support. The ends H of the strap are turned up andare drawn together by bolts G. Ifdesired, two straps may be used, onelocated on each side of the projection D,.or siinplyone of these strapsmay be used;-but I prefer the construction of strap shown in Fig. 3.These supports 0 are secured to the wires 13 every half-foot apart, andare drawn into the tube A in this completed condition, and to facilitatethe said travel of the wires and supports through the conduit thesupports may be provided with rollers d, so distributed that they keepthe supports clear of the conduit and allow of their being easily drawnthrough the tube. These supports are made with the apertures I, to allowi'ree passage of the compressed gas or vapor, which is driven into theconduit by the suitable pumping device, J, (shown in Fig. 5,) and isallowed to escape under pressure from the valve K, at the other end,thereby admitting all the necessary circulation.

Having now described my invention, what claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of the longitudinal conducting-wires with acylindrical casting of considerable width, and having a circular row ofradiating projections of much less width, forming spaces between saidprojections, into which the wires are placed and caused to rest upon thewide surface of the cylinder, a tightening-band having perforations tofit over the projections on the cylinder and adapted to clamp the wiresdown upon the cylinder upon each side of the projections,and suitablemeans, substantially as set forth, for tightening the band,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. The combination, with the parallel electric wires 13, of the support0, consisting of a band provided with projections D, furnished with twoor more rollers, 01, and spaces E, in which latter the wires are placed,and straps to hold said wires down clear of the outer edges of theproject-ions, and a conduit of approximately the same shape as theperiphery of the projections D, substantially as and for the pureningbolts G, substantially as and for the I0 pose specified. purposespecified.

3. The combination, with the parallel elee- In testimony of whichinvention I hereunto tric wires B, of the support 0, consisting of a setmy hand. band provided with projections D, and spaces E, in which latterthe wires are placed, andstraps to hold said wires down clear of the\Vitnesses: outer edges of the projections, consisting of i E. M.BRECKINREED,

JOSIAH S. DU BOIS.

strap F, having holes f and ends H, and tight- ANDREW ZANE, J r;

